Applying for Citizenship

Every Nisga’a participant (i.e. an individual who is enrolled under the Treaty) who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada is entitled to be a Nisga’a citizen.A person who is not a Nisga’a participant and who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada may become a Nisga’a citizen if permitted by, and in accordance with, Nisga’a Law.

Nisga'a Citizenship Application General Process Under the Nisga'a Citizenship Act (Section 6) there is a fairly straight forward process for applying to become a Nisga'a Citizen.

1. After considering an application for enrolment made under section 6(2), the Enrolment Committee must conditionally approve the application if the Enrolment Committee is satisfied that (a) The applicant meets the eligibility criteria, and (b) the application meets the requirements of this Act and the regulations, but the applicant is enrolled under a land claims agreement in Canada other than the Nisga'a Treaty.

2. If under subsection (1) the Enrolment Committee conditionally approved the application for enrolment made by an applicant, the Enrolment Committee must give the applicant a written notice of its conditional approval, identify the other land claims agreement in which the Enrolment Committee is satisfied the applicant is enrolled and advise the applicant of the provisions of subsection (3) to (5).

3. If within 90 days after an applicant receives notice under subsection (2) of the conditional approval of their application for enrolment, the applicant provides documentary proof satisfactory to the director that the applicant was not or is no longer enrolled under the other land claims agreement, the director must as soon a practicable, (a) Enter the applicant's name > In the Enrolment Register and > If the applicant is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, in the List of Nisga'a Citizens, and (b) Notify the applicant of the steps that have been taken under paragraph (a).

4. If within 90 days, after an applicant receives notice under subsection (2) of the conditional approval of their application for enrolment, the applicant fails to provide documentary proof satisfactory to the director that the applicant was not or is no longer enrolled under the other land claims agreement, the application is deemed to be refused, and the director must as soon as practicable give the applicant a written notice of the reasons for the refusal and advise the applicant of the provisions of subsection (5).

5. An applicant whose application for enrolment is refused under subsection (4) may, within 30 days after the applicant receives the written notice of the reasons for their refusalgiven under that subsection, request a review of that refusal under the Nisga'a Administrative Decisions Review Act..

Applications can be obtained in the offices of the four Nisga'a Village Government and three Nisga'a Urban Societies.